The Union Budget 2026-27 has increased the allocation for the Ministry of Ayush to Rs 4,500 crore, marking a more than 10% rise from the previous fiscal year. Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush, disclosed this development on Sunday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her ninth consecutive Budget speech, proposed the establishment of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to enhance education, research, and tertiary care capacity in Ayurveda.
She also outlined plans to elevate Ayush pharmacies and drug testing laboratories to higher certification standards, thereby strengthening the quality-assurance framework for Ayurvedic and traditional medicines. This move aims to create a demand for more skilled personnel in the sector. Jadhav mentioned, “In this year’s budget, the Ayush Ministry has been allocated around Rs 4,500 crore, a rise of over 10% compared to last year’s budget of 2025-26.” He further noted the substantial growth of the Ayush industry currently underway.
The Finance Minister additionally proposed the enhancement of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar to advance evidence-based research, training, and awareness in traditional medicine globally. Jadhav emphasized that this upgrade will facilitate evidence-based research and the generation of robust scientific evidence, ultimately elevating the quality of research in traditional medicine. Collaboration with the WHO is expected to aid in obtaining global recognition for traditional medicine practices.
Sitharaman’s announcements also included plans to establish Ayush centers within the proposed five Regional Medical Value Tourism Hubs, integrating AYUSH services into comprehensive medical tourism complexes. These centers will offer a range of services including diagnostics, post-care, and rehabilitation alongside traditional treatments like yoga, naturopathy, and ayurveda. Jadhav highlighted the significance of this integration, stating that it will enable the delivery of treatment through therapeutic approaches while attracting patients from abroad.
